Update

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day!

I was on a path of writing regularly than SLAM! I started a few but threw them in draft. My thoughts are all scattered. Let me just tell you recent events.

I got my disability check BUT not last month's. So I am in the system once again. I am still contemplating if I want to get a lawyer to see what I can do or just chalk it up to the government and leave it alone. I don't give up easily but what the lawyer would charge would probably take what my check is worth plus more. 

Last week My BabyGirl and I had a sleepover. We had our weekly outing. Since  MyLove was out of town and she seemed to be alone I asked her if she wanted to come spend the night. So she packed up and we came here. We watched two movies, talked and I put her to bed around 10:30. It was hard to do but I told her to take the phone off. We woke up and I brought her to college.

After her morning classes, I picked her up and brought her to the apartment so she can get her bike and ride back to college for her evening class. I enjoyed my time thoroughly and didn't want to let her go.

A while back I was searching YouTube for a country singer my daughter had mentioned. However, the suggestions on the side grabbed my attention. If any of you have not seen Annoying Orange you gotta see this. OOps I tried putting it below but it kept going where it is now.

There are various videos featuring Annoying Orange. The laugh is wicked. It is cool the way the creators have the mouth move to the script. I cringe every time the knife comes even though I know it is going to happen. I now have to have my "Orange" fix every day.

I also have joined a couple of groups on Facebook. One only accepts people with cerebral palsy. It is astonishing to see so many people with the same difficulties and although our lives are different, we have some similarities. It is nice to be able to know somone ACTUALLY knows how certain situations make you feel.

I also joined a "Remember When you Lived On" ...:.and it states the little island I grew up on.  It is remarkable how many people lived there before we did and after. We remind each other the little things we had forgotten. We remember the people that have touched our lives. We remember our adventures we had: Going to the sandpit, swimming in the bayou, stopping for the alligators to cross and much much more. Everyone remembered chasing the train man and he throwing candy to all of us. We remember our field trips, the little school we went to etc.

Most of all we realize  how special that island was to grow up on. We never thought we would be reminisicing living there. It was a true beautiful place to live.

 I used to wish there was a place like it to raise my daughter. But there will never be a place like it.

Banking Nonsense-Part I

If you are following my fiasco since the 3rd, you'll know its been rough.

I have debits scheduled to be deducted from my checking account. I also have debit card/savings OD protection. However, the bank can decided what they will pay and what they will not pay if I should  use my debit card with insufficient funds. (How stupid would that be if I knew I was overdrawn or didn't have enough and still used the debit card..duh!)

Also, if I overdraw, they are suppose to first transfer the money from my savings before the OD protection kicks in, at THEIR descretion. I think that is bullshit. Why have OD protection if its at THEIR DISCRETION? To me its like okay, she overdrew or she doesn't have enough, so lets put all the transactions in a hat and pick which ones we will pay.

Here are some of their "DISCLOSURES"

We do authorize and pay overdrafts for the following:

Checks and other transactions using your checking account number

Recurring debit transactions.

The very next line is: If we don't hear from you, we will not pay for the overdraft for the following reasons: Everyday debit card transactions.

Is that confusing or what?

Then it says: We pay overdraft at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any transaction.

If we do not authorize and pay an transaction, your transaction will be denied (Obviously!)

Anyway, my insurance was scheduled to be deducted. The minute I saw my disability was not there, I immediately transferred my savings to my checking so the insurance wouldn't kick back. It was covered! It was before the bank opened. You would think I was okay, right? 

WRONG!  My insurance called and told me the bank denied it. I look at my account and I see a OD charge the same day I transferred the money in AND they did not pay it.  What the hell?

I called my bank and told them what happened. The representative who could hardly speak English told me it was midnight the transaction went through and I transferrred after that. I'm like so? She said the fee was because of the OD. I told her I didn't overdraw. I transferred the money! I told her also and I read it word for word but will shorten it here: You have until the end of the transaction day to deposit the money before OD protection starts or charged OD fees.

She says, "But you didn't?" I hung up on her. I was so upset that day and I felt it was a no win situation.  I had enough. I decided to let a few days go by, as I had deposited more money and I would go back and get my 34 back. It made NO sense to me and it still doesn't.

Let me explain my insurance history a little. When I first starting paying insurance as an adult, my parents transferred the policy to my name. It was the same company I have now but different city and agent. Someone hit me and totaled my car. Well the agent at the time called me at my job and harrassed me for months threatening they will cut me off next car accident. I finally had enough, changed insurance companies altogether and vowed I'll never go to that company again.

However, when MyLove and I got together and bought rent insurance together, I figured out if I would put my car insurance I could get a discount  which meant less money out of my pocket so I switched. The first 6 months was mixed up, I didn't get my insurance cards in time, when I changed my name, the corporate office got it mixed up so I was at the office several times highly irritated. It finally got straightened.

So when I arrived at the office, my rep greets me at the door. He remembered my name. Wonder why huh? LOL. I told him my predicament. I had cash on me.

He said in the office they usually don't deal with cash, they only accept credit cards, debit cards, money orders so they won't have to go the bank every day. As I think about it, what do they do with money orders? HOWEVER he saw my wad of bills and said he didn't have any change. So we made a compromise and he took my money and credited my account the difference.I asked him what was the NSF charge since it kicked back. He said, "Its all good. We're not charging you." I wanted to kiss his cute cheeks LOL. 

Stay tuned for Part II.--Interaction with the Bank

 

The Dark Hole is Returning...

I was going to go to the grocery store this morning but I ended up at at the Social Security Office instead.

You see, I checked my bank account online and noticed my disability had not gone through. So I calmly called the SSA office and after 1/2 hour on the phone going through the questions and being passed from one to the other, nothing was solved. They simply couldn't find me in their system. I've been having a SS number since I was born and have been having disability since 1995. I gathered my information and went to the SS office, panicked by the time I got there.

After another 45 minutes of waiting  I was called. I tried as calmly as I could to explain to the lady my problem. She types in my information and says I am not there. It was like a de ja vu when the IRS told me and her father MyBabyGirl was never born when she was around 6 years of age.

I hand her the paper stating that I was disabled, last month's bank statement showing the deposit, my SS card an driver's license.

She reads the documents, comparing the documents a couple of times etc. I had been standing which is unusual for me because when I see a chair, I usually sit.

So she looks up at me concerned and says, "Have a seat Ma'am."  I sat at the edge of the seat. She says, "one moment". I watch her walk to the back and talked with a gentleman. After looking at another computer, I saw them whispering. They disappeared into another room  and was gone for 15 minutes. I was getting pissed!

She returns  and says, "Ma'am. You were deleted from the system." I asked rather loudly. "WHAT?"

She said, "We checked several sources and you were deleted accidentally." I astonishly said, "WTF! Who deleted me? She responses with a hush voice, "I don't know ma'am."

Voice raising because I was outraged and panicked, "What the hell? How can someone just delete me without me knowing about it until it is time for a check?"

She shifts in her chair and says, "We figured a person with the same name but a digit in the social security number was different and you were deleted instead of her."

I was trying to be logical knowing anyone can make a mistake, including myself, I say, "Okay so what next?" She said, "Well ma'am, we have to process it through." I asked, "Which means?". We have to send your documents to the main office and reinstate you. I blurted, "Are you fucking serious?" She said, "I'm sorry I can't give you any more explanation." I blubbered, "Well that is just so fucking nice. Ya'll lose me in your system and I have to wait? Trying to avoid eye intact, she said yes.

Melt down!

I said And what the fuck am I suppose to do in the meantime? How long is this going to take? She responds when your next check is deposited, this check and your next check will be deposited. I asked, "Next month". Again, no eye contact. "Yes"

I stand up and shout, "And how am I suppose to pay bills. I have my child's tuition, rent, food, utilities, insurance . I am going to have a bounced autodebit for my insurance.Tell me how am I going to do live for the next month."

By that time I see the man approach to stand behind the lady. And the security guard on the side of me. The waiting room was full of people and it was quiet. I'm crying waiting for an answer she couldn't answer, snot and tears rolling down. She gives me a kleenex and the man directs me to come to the back..

I asked for what? Was he going to give me my check? He apologetically responded, "Honey, I can't do that. It has to go through like the lady said." I said, "Can you tell me how I will pay my bills?" He shakes his head and says, "Maybe you have family to help you out?"

I said, "NO, I don't.What the fuck is wrong with you people. I can't work. I don't have additional resources.What the fuck am I suppose to do? Tell me.Just tell me what the fuck am I going to do. The security guard takes my arm and I instinctively pull back, of course I loose balance and almost fall. The SS man came from behind the desk and said, "c'mon sweetie, lets go to my office." The security office sternly gives me an ultimatium that I go with the gentleman or leave. I let the SS man take me in the back. I was losing it big time.

He gave me some water and some more kleenex. I sat there at the edge of my seat with my elbows on top of his desk and my hands holding my head and blubbered. I asked God just to take me out of this miserable life . The man apologized repeatedly. Asking me questions about my family and my daughter. I realized he was just trying to calm me down. I kept having to take deep breaths.

Other workers came in and out asking him questions regarding other issues. Each of them told me they were sorry and it would be okay. Easy for them to say. They will get their paychecks.After I finally calmed down, the man explained to me what happened again and apologized excessively but I appreciated his compassion. As I got up to leave he asked me if I was going to be okay. I said, "I guess. Financially this month I'm doomed.." He escorted me to the door and the security office discreetly followed me to my car and watched me drive away.

Life Sucks than you die. Death has to be better than this!